The WQA Podcast

Water treatment manufacturers see opportunities for growth, but labor shortages, cost pressures and economic uncertainty are tempering their outlook. In this episode of the Water Quality Association Podcast, Sean Caughron, Sam Karge and Bob Maisner join host Wes Bleed to discuss the Q3 2026 WQA Manufacturer Confidence Report. They explore what’s supporting demand for point-of-use and point-of-entr...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. WQA President Greg Reyneke joins Associate Director of Marketing & Communications Susan Keaton for a midyear conversation about the association’s direction. Greg explains how WQA is reorganizing its volunteer sections around work with consumers, businesses, and government, and why he believes the change will help members...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. Dr. Tanya Lubner, WQA’s Director of Professional Certification and Training, joins host Wes Bleed to discuss the education and professional-development opportunities available to water treatment professionals through WQA. They explore WQA’s interactive instructor-led courses, topic-specific training, self-study options,...

A water test may name the contaminant, but it does not always reveal the form in which that contaminant exists—and that distinction can affect both measurement and treatment. In this episode of the Water Quality Association Podcast, Dr. Joshua Mertz, director of research and development at LaMotte Company, explains the hidden chemistry of lead, iron and manganese. Selected excerpts from a recent W...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. Ethics in the water treatment industry involves more than following rules. It is reflected in how professionals test water, explain results, recommend treatment and respond when something goes wrong. Candice Wentling, MWS and director of Certified Action, joins the WQA Podcast to discuss the four A’s of professionalism....

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. What does a Consumer Confidence Report really tell you about your community’s drinking water? Chemical engineer, longtime water treatment consultant and WQA Hall of Fame educator Peter Cartwright, MWS, explains what these reports contain, how they relate to federal drinking water standards and why they may not answer eve...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. Private well customers have different needs than homeowners served by municipal water systems—and that creates a significant opportunity for water treatment professionals. In this episode, longtime Water Quality Association member, Lifetime Membership Award recipient, and WQA instructor Paul Friot (Master Water Specialis...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Learn more at https://wqa.org. Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses operate—but what does that actually look like inside a water treatment company? In this episode, host Wes Bleed talks with Mike Baird, CEO of Aquamor, about how his company is using AI agents to reduce friction, improve consistency, and support employees across mu...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. Kindness in business is often viewed as a “soft skill,” but longtime water treatment leader Doug Ramer argues it may be one of the strongest competitive advantages a company can have. In this episode of The Water Quality Association Podcast, Doug joins host Wes Bleed to discuss how intentional, people-first service can s...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. In this podcast, we feature highlights from the keynote session at the 2026 Water Quality Association Convention in Miami Beach. This special montage honors leadership, volunteerism, innovation, and the professionals helping shape the future of water quality. Featured segments include award recognitions, reflections on i...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. In this episode, WQA President Greg Reyneke joins Susan Keaton to discuss leadership, innovation, and the future of water quality. Recorded on the expo floor at the WQA Convention & Expo in Miami Beach, this episode captures the energy of the convention and the direction of the industry. Topics include: Reyneke’s journey...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. The WQA Convention & Expo (Miami Beach - April 28-30, 2026) is the premier gathering for water treatment professionals—and preparation is key to making the most of it. In this episode, WQA Events Director Angie Silberhorn shares practical insights to help attendees plan ahead, navigate the schedule, and maximize their ex...

What should you expect from the education program at this year’s WQA Convention? In this episode of the Water Quality Association Podcast, Tanya Lubner and John McCartan of the Water Quality Association walk through the key sessions and learning opportunities available to attendees. Topics include artificial intelligence, business strategy, technical training, roundtable discussions, and practical...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association podcast. Https://wqa.org. Small community water systems represent a major opportunity in water treatment—yet many professionals don’t realize they’re already part of it. In this episode, DJ Shannahan, MWS, joins Wes Bleed to explain how systems serving schools, campgrounds, and mobile home parks create pathways for recurring revenue, long-term service contr...

How does the water treatment industry move with the broader economy—and what does that mean for planning ahead? In this episode, Wes Bleed is joined by Bryanna Poczatek of the Water Quality Association and Keith Johnson of Ecowater Systems to discuss the WQA Cross-Correlation Report. They explain how industry data is correlated with external economic indicators, what the post-pandemic data reveals...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. WQA Government Affairs Manager Paige O’Malley joins host Wes Bleed to discuss state-level legislative trends impacting the water treatment industry. Topics include private well legislation, school drinking water initiatives, PFAS mitigation, water softener regulation, and coalition advocacy efforts across more than 300 tracked state bills in 2025....

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. Caroline Kenney, WQA's Government Affairs Manager, and Ted Mondloch of Current Strategies join the podcast to discuss federal policy developments impacting the water treatment industry. Topics include the Healthy H2O Act, PFAS regulations, the Lead and Copper Rule, FIFRA reform efforts, and the importance of WQA’s advoca...

As he retires from his role as Chief Operating Officer of the Water Quality Association, Tom Bruursema reflects on more than 40 years in the water treatment industry. In this conversation, Tom discusses: How the industry has matured and gained credibility The shift from “water softening” to health-focused treatment solutions The role of science, standards, and collaboration in building trust Leade...

On The Water Quality Association Podcast, we’re joined by Richard Mest, who has stepped into a newly created role as WQA’s Strategic Affairs Officer. Richard is no stranger to the association or the industry. He’s served WQA as President, Board member, volunteer, and advocate, and his leadership spans decades of involvement at both the association and manufacturer levels, including his time with A...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association podcast. Eric Yeggy, MWS, WQA’s Technical Affairs Director, joins the podcast for one of our most popular annual episodes: top contaminant concerns and technical priorities for the year ahead. Eric begins with a recap of WQA technical affairs work in advocacy and education, standards engagement, and member-facing research tools. He explains why overlapping...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast, the podcast from WQA, the leading voice of the water treatment industry. Find us at https://wqa.org. In this episode of the WQA Podcast, we rewind the tape and look back at some of the highlights from 2025. We’ll hear thoughts and reflections from the Mid-Year Leadership Conference, the Consumer Insights report, the Manufacturers Survey, WQA CEO Pa...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. Education and professional certification take center stage in this episode, as host Wes Bleed welcomes Dr. Tanya Lubner, WQA’s Director of Professional Certification and Training, and Membership Director Danny Lysouvakon. They discuss why education is one of the most valuable benefits of WQA membership, how instructor-le...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. https://wqa.org. What did 2025 mean for water-quality policy, and what’s next in Washington during an election year? Our guest is Ted Mondloch, Vice President at Current Strategies, WQA’s lobbying and public-affairs partner in D.C. Ted recaps a year marked by shifting regulatory priorities, the bipartisan progress of the Healthy H2O Act, and renewe...

In this episode of the WQA Podcast, host Wes Bleed talks with Mike Heatwole, MWS, Regional Sales Manager for the Mid-Atlantic with Water-Right/A. O. Smith Corporation and a past recipient of WQA’s Regents Award. Mike shares how water treatment systems serve the agriculture industry and the unique challenges farmers face in maintaining water quality. Plus, don’t miss our WQA Tip of the Week.

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find us at https://wqa.org. In this episode of the WQA Podcast, host Wes Bleed sits down with Greg Reyneke, Vice President of WQA and Managing Director at Red Fox Advisors, to discuss the newly released 2025 Consumer Insights Report. Discover how consumer attitudes about tap water, contaminants, and water treatment systems are evolving — and what i...